I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 75

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 75

The Pruina Duchy’s Glass Workshop has quite a deep history.

According to records, it’s over a hundred years old, but even those records merely noted the existence of an already established workshop.

Even in those records from a hundred years ago, it was written that no one knew when the glass workshop was built, showing just how ancient it was.

This was the reason why glass crafts remained as the Northern Region’s only specialty product.

“This place is a work of art in itself as a building.”

The low height necessary to survive without collapsing in the Northern Region’s harsh snow and wind.

The vast, expansive area as if to compensate for the disappointing height.

The sloped roof over the round building with no sharp corners looked at first glance like a rock piled high with snow.

A rock that had taken root deep underground to withstand fierce blizzards.

Hearing Liriart’s commentary, Gwen looked at her with a mysterious expression and said.

“My lady has quite good intuition.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll understand once you see it. Your Highness, please open the door.”

“Without even knocking?”

“This glass workshop originally belongs to His Grace the Duke. The owner wants to enter, so no one can stop him. Isn’t that right, my lady?”

Liriart couldn’t hide her desire.

“I didn’t know my fiancé had such wonderful artwork. If I succeed in inheriting the marquis title, I could receive it as a gift.”

“You want me to hand over someone else’s specialty as a gift?”

That was unacceptable. Zephyrus opened the door with somewhat urgent movements.

“I’m just saying. Your Highness is so serious about everything. Shall I teach you what wit is?”

“No need. And stop calling yourself my fiancée.”

“Oh my, I’m just stating facts.”

The door handle was also made of glass, making him unnecessarily cautious, but Liriart was being annoyingly coy.

The back of his neck tensed slightly, and frost formed on the handle he grasped. To think this happened in just that brief moment.

Should he have come out more slowly?

Then. A hand warmer than anything else pressed against his back.

“Wow. The glass is just like ice. I want to touch it too!”

Clemente, who had approached from behind, covered Zephyrus’s hand that was gripping the handle.

Naturally, the ice melted away.

The tension that had been stiffening his entire back also melted away gently.

“Did you want to touch ice?”

“Yes. If I could. Snow too! I want to have snowball fights with children and build snowmen.”

“I see.”

“But can I open the door?”

“No. I’ll open it.”

Clemente stepped back. Zephyrus turned the handle with much lighter movements.

Whoosh—

“…Shouldn’t we be feeling heat?”

Gwen, who had been preparing to cover her face, awkwardly scratched her cheek.

Glass crafting requires hot fire.

The glass workshop, the only hot space in the cold Northern Region, felt like it was in the north but not in the north.

“It’s less hot than Clemente.”

“Ah. This is where the craftsmen rest, so that’s why.”

It would get progressively hotter as they went inside.

Before Gwen could explain this, Liriart expressed her doubt.

“Didn’t you say outsiders can hardly enter here? I’m curious how you’ve been here when even His Highness can’t come outside.”

“His Grace the Previous Duke brought me here.”

“Ah. Well, if that’s the case, then it’s possible.”

Since the Previous Duke had brought him, there was nothing to say. It was also awkward to ask why he did that.

“Father did?”

Zephyrus tilted his head at hearing this for the first time.

“Yes, I’ll explain as we go. We need to call someone anyway.”

Gwen took the lead.

“His Grace the Previous Duke called me and brought me here before he went up the mountain. He told me to bring Your Highness someday.”

Zephyrus’s throat tightened.

An unknown emotion surged up, hitting his throat.

“For what… for what purpose?”

“Well, I don’t know. Anyway, this place can only be entered when His Grace the Duke is present.”

The crafts they provide are received from outside. Originally, only a few pieces come out per year.

The craftsmen don’t come outside, to the extent that there are separate people responsible for the craftsmen’s general housework and errands.

Unless they were brought directly by the Pruina Duke, they wouldn’t even welcome guests.

“Is there a reason to keep such haughty people around?”

Liriart frowned.

She believed that just as the lord of a domain bears responsibilities for the domain, those living in the domain also have duties to fulfill for the domain.

She didn’t think those duties ended with just small glass crafts.

At least it seemed fortunate that they appeared to show loyalty to the lord.

“You’re curious about that!”

Suddenly, a loud sound like lightning striking overhead echoed through the workshop.

“Kyaa, kyaah!”

Liriart covered her ears while looking around warily.

“My, what a timid young lady!”

A man who emerged from a door at the end of the corridor stretched out his arm filled with bulging muscles.

“What, what are you doing!”

“Where’s that mosquito buzzing from. Stay still.”

The rough hand passed by Liriart’s head and grasped the empty air behind her.

It was in front of Zephyrus’s face.

“Right. You were born carrying very thick Pruina blood.”

The man who slowly withdrew his hand eventually looked at Clemente.

His straight, direct eyes wavered for a moment.

“Hmm.”

When his eyes wouldn’t leave Clemente, Zephyrus stepped between them.

“If you have something to say, say it. What are you doing appearing out of nowhere?”

“I didn’t mean to startle you. I was the one who was surprised.”

Seeing Zephyrus’s sharp gaze, the man chuckled.

“You probably don’t know about the contract between House Pruina and our glassmakers. Right?”

“…A contract. What connection does that have with your current rudeness?”

There was no way he could know about such a contract. Now wasn’t good for showing his ignorance. This wasn’t even an important moment for that.

Getting rid of those eyes staring intently at Clemente came first.

“This won’t make for proper conversation. You there, little knight.”

“…Are you calling me?”

The man called to Gwen.

“Yes. The little one who came holding Eden Pruina’s hand tightly.”

Eden Pruina. That was Zephyrus’s father’s name.

Then the man’s face and name, buried deep in Gwen’s memory, surfaced.

“…I don’t remember holding hands tightly, Emile.”

“Heh, you remember.”

Gwen’s face contorted with displeasure.

How could he forget the name of someone who, under the pretense of entertaining guests, made a sixteen-year-old drink strong liquor?

“So what.”

“Do everything you need to do and come find me tonight.”

“Your Highness, what will you do?”

Since his father Eden’s name had come up, he couldn’t do everything with Liriart.

Even he thought it was right to finish all the scheduled activities and come alone.

To hear that secret, that is.

Of course, showing the guests around the Northern Region was a different matter entirely.

“Didn’t you bring guests with you? They should at least see the sights.”

“Oho. I’ll take you to the experience workshop. Follow me.”

Zephyrus held onto Clemente and gestured for Gwen to walk ahead.

Following Emile through several doors, they came to a space filled with murals depicting the history of the Pruina Glass Workshop.

“Not many people have entered Pruina’s glass workshop. You must be either precious enough for the Duke to bring personally or have close ties with him. Do you know why?”

Emile’s gaze turned toward Liriart.

She hadn’t expected to receive such a question at a place she’d visited with a light heart before seriously preparing documents for marquis succession.

“Well. I think the person who brought us should know that, don’t you think, Your Highness?”

Liriart passed the question to Zephyrus. Zephyrus, who had been looking at the murals with deep eyes, answered.

“There’s history here.”

Hidden history that he didn’t know. It meant very few people knew about it.

“Correct. It’s also a truth that wouldn’t be good if many people knew about it. And that means…”

Emile paused and looked at Liriart.

“Dangerous things might happen if someone unqualified sees it.”

Just as Liriart’s eyes shook mercilessly.

“Oh! Wow! Master, look at this. The hair color is exactly the same as mine!”

-ame! -ame! -ame!

Clemente’s bright voice, uninterested in the truth of hidden history, echoed throughout the room.

Several times over.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————